Generational Wins Prayer GuideDobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

It will all come down to the U.S. Supreme Court this December: The state of Mississippi will defend its landmark law that upholds America’s foundational respect for life by limiting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will mark the best opportunity in nearly

30 years that the Supreme Court will have to provide a Generational Win for life. This is a decision that could:

greatly reduce the number of abortions in America,

protect women, children, and the integrity of the medical profession,

and inspire other states to join Mississippi in turning the tide of legalized abortion.

With this case, we now arrive at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Will we as a nation value the lives of the most vulnerable? Or will we continue to sanction abortion on demand, which has marred our collective conscience?

Though we are thankful that the Supreme Court has granted a hearing for this case, we know that our greatest appeal to safeguard life is made to the Judge of all the earth. In the Old Testament, when Israel faced existential threats, the

Michael Farris President & CEO

prescription God provided was to halt business as usual and call upon His people to dedicate themselves to prayer, fasting, and repentance. As it was then, so it is now. We all must pray—both young people who have only known a country that provides abortion-on-demand, and seasoned believers who have watched our nation drift so far from protecting life from the moment of conception.

This prayer guide was created for the purpose of helping people like you fervently and consistently pray for this case until a decision is handed down from the Court. This effort requires every Christian to engage their voice in appeal to God for mercy on behalf of our nation. The good news is that prayer changes things!

Imagine what could happen if we all dedicated ourselves to a season of focused prayer for this case? God not only has the authority to bring an end to Roe v. Wade, but He can also spark a societal reformation and spiritual awakening that will change the course of America for generations to come. As we embark on this initiative together, may we wholeheartedly believe that the faithful promise originally given to the Israelites found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 still holds truth and encouragement for us today: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

OVERVIEWIn 2018, Mississippi passed the Gestational Age Act to protect the health of pregnant mothers, the dignity of unborn children, and the integrity of the medical profession by limiting abortions after 15 weeks in gestational age, permitting them only in medical emergencies or for severe fetal abnormality. Mississippi’s law highlights a conflict between the Supreme Court’s rulings in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and the Court’s repeated affirmation in subsequent cases that states have a legitimate interest in protecting both mothers and “vulnerable and innocent life” from the moment of conception.

On December 1, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization regarding Mississippi’s law to deal with this conflict. This news has given the pro-life movement reason to hope, as this will likely be one of the biggest abortion decisions since Roe v. Wade, with the potential to reverse that catastrophic decision. More than 60 million unborn children have lost their lives to abortion since Roe was decided.

Abortion activists are attempting to label Mississippi’s policy as extreme, but the truth is that U.S. law is what is extreme. More than 75% of countries worldwide have laws limiting elective abortions at 12 weeks or earlier. The U.S. is one of only four nations that permits abortion-on-demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy, along with China and North Korea. The reality is that most Americans support commonsense laws like Mississippi’s which protect unborn children and their mothers.

Mississippi’s Law Protects Unborn ChildrenAt 15 weeks, unborn babies have a heartbeat, can move around and kick, sense movement outside the womb, taste what their mom eats, open and close their fingers, and hiccup. They can also likely sense pain—which is undoubtedly what an abortion inflicts when it requires the unborn baby to be crushed and torn apart. That has no place in any civilized society.

Mississippi’s Law Advances Women’s Physical and Emotional Health and Well-BeingThe Mississippi law recognizes that women deserve real health care, not dangerous procedures that are unnecessary and devastating. This law ensures women are not put at greater risk of death, illness, or psychological trauma that late-term abortions cause. For example, in abortions performed after 15 weeks, women face a higher risk of needing a hysterectomy, other reparative surgery, or a blood transfusion. The risk of a woman dying due to an abortion also increases exponentially as her pregnancy progresses.

As a result of this case, we have a divine opportunity through prayer to achieve a Generational Win in safeguarding life for generations to come. We must now dedicate ourselves to strategic prayer to cover every aspect of this case.

We must pray with an understanding that the battle for life can only be won through prayer. As we position our hearts to pray for this case, below you will find some of the major prayer focuses you can pray through:

Supreme Court Justices State of Mississippi Culture and Public Opinion Church Engagement Women and Unborn Children

SUPREME COURT JUSTICESThe Supreme Court Justices, including their clerks, need our intercession on their behalf. The immense pressure they will be under cannot be overestimated. We must not assume how any of the Justices will rule based on previous rulings, or preconceived notions about their personal beliefs or opinions. As we pray for each Justice by name, may we pray from a place of confidence knowing that God can turn the hearts of those whom He places in authority.

John RobertsClarence Thomas

Stephen BreyerSamuel Alito

Sonia SotomayorElena KaganNeil Gorsuch

Brett KavanaughAmy Coney Barrett

PRAYER POINTS:Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in the hearts and minds of the Justices to rule on the side of life (Proverbs 21:1).

Pray that the Justices will not be persuaded by political pressure or perceived public opinion, but that they would be impartial in their judgment (Deuteronomy 16:19)

Pray that the fear of the Lord will be present as the Justices deliberate the case. (Proverbs 8:13).

Pray that the Justices receive divine wisdom and are free from all confusion and distraction (Proverbs 1:23).

Pray for all federal and state judges considering questions of protecting life (Micah 6:8).

STATE OF MISSISSIPPIThe State of Mississippi has made a courageous stand on behalf of life, but the real test lies in proving the constitutional strength of its legislation before the Court. With the spotlight fully on Mississippi, those who are responsible for presenting the state’s case need our prayers as they prepare. Additionally, the state could serve as an example of what the day after Roe could look like.

PRAYER POINTS:Pray that Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her team would be anointed with divine wisdom as they prepare to defend the pro-life stance of the state. Pray that all unwise counsel would be frustrated (Daniel 2:20-22; 2 Samuel 15:31).

Pray for Solicitor General Scott Stewart as he will be presenting Mississippi’s case before the Court. Pray that his words are clear, concise, and convincing (Acts 6:10).

Pray that the doctors and workers at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion clinic would come to know the life-giving power of the Gospel (Romans 5:6-10).

Pray that other states would follow Mississippi’s legislative lead in adopting life-protecting legislation.

PRAYER POINTS:Pray that pro-abortion activists’ and the media’s attempts to deceive the American public by labeling pro-life policy as extreme would fail. (Proverbs 26:24-26).

Pray that pro-life advocates discover creative ways to tell stories of the blessings of choosing life.

Pray that accurate information will be distributed to the public about how policies like Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act protects mothers and babies. (Psalm 119:160).

Pray that the stories of the women harmed by abortion are amplified in the wider cultural dialogue.

CULTURE AND PUBLIC OPINIONTo ensure that life is safeguarded for future generations, it is imperative that public opinion and culture trend toward affirming life from conception to natural death. Pro-abortion organizations and the media are already attempting to deceive the American public by labeling Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act as extreme. These tactics must be deliberately counteracted with scientific facts concerning the development of unborn babies in the womb and the international human rights consensus that babies in the womb should be protected.

PRAYER POINTS:Pray that pastors across America would have boldness to speak to their congregations with truth and grace about this case and lead their churches in prayer efforts to restore human dignity for the unborn.

Pray that more churches partner with pregnancy resource centers in their cities to provide counseling, sidewalk prayer ministries, and other life-affirming resources to women considering abortion.

Pray that churches find effective ways to serve the physical and financial needs of moms who desire to keep their babies, such as housing and employment services.

Pray that the influence and profile of faith-based adoption agencies increases.

Pray that more churches support pregnancy resource centers in their efforts to provide healing for women who have been scarred by abortion.

CHURCH ENGAGEMENTThis case provides the Church with a window of opportunity This case provides the Church with an opportunity to increase its advocacy and services for the unborn and mothers considering abortion. The Church must move into greater action, especially if a favorable ruling is received. As transformers of the culture, Christians can make an enormous difference in the lives of mothers and babies by providing them with a redemptive storyline, showing them mercy, and sharing the hope found only in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER POINTS:Pray for God’s protection of unborn children and that He would thwart plans for abortion (Psalm 140:8).

Pray that women who are pregnant would have the strength and courage to choose life and that they would encounter Christians who will be the hands and feet of Jesus when they need support.

Pray that women who have had abortions would find God’s hope and healing, and that the church would surround them with the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:13).

Pray for women who are being pressured by boyfriends, husbands, parents, friends, or medical professionals to get an abortion— that God would grant them the peace and protection they need to have their children.

WOMEN AND UNBORN CHILDRENOur culture portrays abortion as a victimless act that liberates women. We know, however, that abortion always has multiple victims. From the unborn child to the mother to the medical professionals who perform them, abortion harms everyone involved, in deep and enduring ways. Both the unborn child and the mother are image-bearers of God worthy of our love, care, and compassion.

ABOUT THE GENERATIONAL WINS PRAYER INITIATIVE:

Much of America has turned away from God and His truth, and as a result our God-given freedoms are facing increasing threats. For this reason, Alliance Defending Freedom has launched the Generational Wins Prayer Initiative: to mobilize and equip 5 to 10 million Christians to pray for the preservation of freedom for future generations. We believe that prayer is the catalyst for not only preserving freedom’s future, but also for seeing the great spiritual awakening and societal transformation that America desperately needs.

What is a Generational Win?A Generational Win achieves significant victory that changes the law and culture of the nation for a generation. A win is sustained by deliberate action, so the victory endures for generations to come.

These are ADF’s Five Generational Wins:

Life Is Safeguarded — Guaranteeing the right to life from conception to natural death.

Religious Freedom Prevails — Restoring religious freedom as a fundamental right.

All Can Speak Freely — Securing Free speech for all.

Marriage And Family Are Protected — Ensuring the law respects God’s creative order of marriage, the family, and human sexuality.

Parental Rights Are Guaranteed — Guaranteeing the fundamental rights of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

Join us in praying for freedom’s future by visitingwww.adflegal.org/prayer and sign up to receive weekly Generational Wins prayer updates.

© 2021